Spain ยท Canary Islands
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at El Quemao. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Barely any swell. Not much to work with today. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Moderate wind adding texture to the faces.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
El Quemao is an incredibly dangerous, world-class reef break located near the village of La Santa on the north-western coast of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Frequently compared to Pipeline, the bathymetry features an exceptionally shallow, highly irregular volcanic rock shelf that borders a deep-water channel. When massive north-westerly winter groundswells strike this sudden transition, the ocean heaves violently, producing an enormously thick, square-shaped plunging lip. The wave offers a treacherous left-hand barrel and an equally perilous, albeit shorter, right. A south-easterly offshore wind holds the immense lip open. Due to the extreme hydraulic weight, the near-vertical take-off, and the severe proximity of the razor-sharp volcanic rock mere centimetres beneath the surface, El Quemao is strictly reserved for elite, professional-level surfers. It is a highly technical, high-consequence arena where mistakes guarantee severe injury or equipment destruction, demanding total commitment and absolute mastery of heavy-water tube riding.
Heads up: rip risk elevated, and jellyfish: peak season.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 42% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:00
Crystal clear water: ~21m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at El Quemao
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile โPartly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at El Quemao is the week of 16 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
El Quemao is a heavy, hollow left-hand reef break at La Santa in Lanzarote. It breaks over extremely shallow volcanic rock, producing short, intense barrels that have earned it a reputation as one of the heaviest waves in the Canary Islands. The wave is short but the power is immense. It sits in a natural lava pool formation that amplifies the incoming swell energy.
Needs a solid north-westerly groundswell. Trade winds are sideshore but the reef setup provides some shelter. Best at mid to high tide when there is more water over the shallowest sections. The 4-8ft range is where it produces its famous barrels. November through March is prime season. Not for the faint-hearted at any size.
The take-off is over a defined section of reef where the swell suddenly hits shallow rock and throws violently. The left barrels quickly and shuts down within 30-50 metres. Positioning must be precise; too deep and you are under the lip, too far out and you miss it entirely.
Extremely dangerous. The shallowest volcanic reef of any regularly surfed wave in the Canaries. Dry reef on the inside at low tide. The wave throws with enormous force over barely-covered rock. Serious injuries (head, back, limbs) have occurred. Helmets are strongly recommended. Only for advanced, experienced surfers.
Park at La Santa and walk along the lava rock to the break. Entry is from the rocks; study where locals enter and exit. The volcanic coastline is sharp and unforgiving.
Small group of local chargers plus visiting big-wave surfers. The consequence keeps numbers down naturally. Do not paddle out here unless you are genuinely experienced in heavy reef breaks. The locals know every contour of the reef.
Watch from the cliff for at least 30 minutes before considering a paddle-out. The wave looks manageable from above but the power is deceptive. Booties and a helmet are genuinely advisable. If El Quemao is too heavy, Famara beach (20 minutes) offers a mellow alternative.
Solid swell
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at El Quemao tend to be best between 07:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 21/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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